After the Bundesliga defeat at RB Leipzig, there was supposed to be a surprise in the Champions League at FC Barcelona – but Eintracht Frankfurt didn’t manage to do that because someone scored twice who almost never scores otherwise. Jules Koundé scored two headed goals within three minutes (50th/53rd) for a 1-2 (1-0) defeat for Frankfurt, who even took the lead through Ansgar Knauff (21st).
To describe the defense before this game as the weak point of Eintracht’s season so far was certainly not a bold thesis. In nine competitive games there had been at least three goals conceded before the game in Barcelona, and before the 6-0 defeat in Leipzig last weekend there had already been two 5-1 defeats in the Champions League at Atletico Madrid and against Liverpool FC. But there was initially no sign of that at the new Camp Nou – at least that was true for large parts of the game.
Brown unnerves Yamal and sets up for Knauff
Although Robert Lewandowski scored early to make it 1-0, before which Raphinha was offside (10th), and Gerard Martin challenged Michael Zetterer with a long-range shot (14th), otherwise the Eintracht defense had the opponent’s constant attempts to attack very well under control. Particularly worthy of mention was Nathaniel Brown, who faced world star teenager Lamine Yamal and not only fought him strongly, but even became the decisive offensive man himself.
In the 21st minute, Brown didn’t steal the ball from the Spaniard for the first time, he switched immediately, dribbled past two other Barcelona professionals and passed through to Knauff. The 23-year-old was called up as a center forward due to his pace and the absences of Jonathan Burkardt and Michy Batshuayi, which paid off in this scene. Knauff ran away from the Barca defenders and calmly converted to make it 1-0 (21st).
Frankfurt totally stable, Garcia is lucky after a bad kick
Coach Hansi Flick’s team dominated the game in every phase, but the pressure was never so great that it overwhelmed the Bundesliga club’s defense. Even for Fermin Lopez’s shot from eleven meters, where Zetterer would probably have had no chance, Robin Koch was also there from Frankfurt (26th). And so Eintracht had the best chance of the second goal before the break, but a shot from Ellyes Skhiri went just over the crossbar (45th + 1).
Before that, however, there had been an even bigger commotion. Eric Garcia hit Fares Chaibi’s shin with his studs, Frankfurt called for a red card, but it was “only” yellow (41′). A quite controversial assessment, which referee Davide Massa only had confirmed by radio and no longer looked at the situation on the video screen.
Rashford shines as a provider and Koundé as a double packer
For one half, coach Dino Toppmöller’s team shone, where they had had so many problems in the past few weeks – but they came back after the break. Flick brought on Marcus Rashford, who immediately set up a top chance for Raphinha, whose shot flew over the empty goal (48th). But shortly afterwards Koundé benefited from a perfect Rashford cross and headed the score 1-1 (50th).
The Frenchman is considered one of the best right-backs in the world, but his shooting qualities have so far remained undiscovered. Koundé had previously scored one goal in 41 Champions League appearances – but Frankfurt even enabled him to score a brace. After a towering cross from Yamal, Koundé came back completely unchallenged to head the ball and put the ball into the far corner (53′).
In the end, Frankfurt defended well again, but nothing more
In this phase, Frankfurt was again reminded of the game in Leipzig, after which the club’s main aim was to show a reaction in Barcelona. The team couldn’t be denied that, but the defensive quality was missing to withstand the Flick team’s star ensemble at all times. At least Arthur Theate managed to prevent the third goal in a one-on-four situation when he was able to block a shot from Rashford (59th).
Afterwards, Frankfurt was lucky that Ferran Torres, who had recently scored three goals in the 5-3 win at Betis Sevilla, narrowly missed the far corner with a low shot shortly after his substitution (69′), shortly afterwards Zetterer was there to deny the striker (71′). However, not much happened in front of the Eintracht goal after that – but that didn’t mean that there was any hope of a turnaround.
Eintracht is threatened with a quick CL exit
Because the Toppmöller team didn’t manage to put the opponent’s goal in trouble. So it was a significant improvement in performance, but not complete compensation for the disgrace in Leipzig. And the result has consequences, with four points the immediate elimination from the premier class is getting closer and closer, in the remaining games at Qarabag Agdam (January 21st) and against Tottenham Hotspur (January 28th) they urgently need a sense of success again in order to make it into the playoffs.
After only one draw in the last four games, this should now happen in the Bundesliga for the first time. On Saturday, Frankfurt will be guests at Hamburger SV (3:30 p.m.) – who won the northern derby against Werder Bremen (3:2) in their own stadium last weekend.